NEW & NOTED: Hong Kong Highlights

Always something NEW to look out for in Hong Kong.

KFC Opens Concept Store At Causeway Bay!

Yes you read right, Mac-kers did it and now its the Colonel’s turn. KFC has opened a concept store in Causeway Bay on the corner of Hennessy Rd and Percival Street promising a contemporary chill-out fast food experience. The semi-cafe dining experience offers a street level grab-and-go “sweet box” for desserts and ice creams lovers. Go up to the first floor and find self-ordering kiosks with modern bar seats and a second floor main dining area with 150 seats. The new premises are comfortable with a chill ambience of unique insta-worthy pop-art and 3D art installations.

Try the Grilled Chicken Combo (HK$138) – freshly-grilled-to-order and serve with crisscut fries, salad and two soft drinks; Oven-glazed Hot Wing Platter (HK$88) – 3 garlic cheese-glazed, 3 honey BBQ-glazed and 3 sweet chili-glazed hot wings, plus large fries, salad and two soft drinks, Chizza (HK$88) – the chicken pizza with a giant KFC chicken fillet as the base with cheese & pineapple and two soft drinks (regular version with one soft drink is priced at HK$49) and Baked Rice with Chicken Fillet Combo (HK$52) – salad or tomato soup with soft drink. Go check out: http://www.kfchk.com

Late-night, Eat and Drink at TMK

Sheung Wan debuts another all-day dining venue, TMK by the Pirata Group worth checking out for its fun, rowdy ambience and food that take you through the day well into the night.  Unapologetically loud and rowdy, this Japanese punk rock inspired joint has a 1980’s style Japanese custom motorcycle parked as part of the decor, Japanese art on display and a tattoo room inspired bathroom.

There are lip-smacking hand rolls, as well as a selection of sushi and sashimi with a refreshing take on the traditional Japanese temakeria. Interesting eats include the crispy Iberico Kushikatsu (HKD108) and the chewy textured Green Tea Soba (HKD88; additional HKD40 for Yellowfin Tuna), classic hand rolls such as the fresh Hamachi Tomato (HKD58) and the vegetarian Avocado & Quinoa (HKD38), Tuna Hotdog (HKD98) and Salmon Taco (HKD78) with a rich yuzu mayo and buttery avocado tempura. There are also two appetizing tasting menus  – the Denim (HKD288 pp) is ideal for guests who prefer to drink their night away while the Leather (HKD398 pp) is a ‘best-of’ platter.

If you are feeling generous, shout “Drinks On Me”, it will cost you only HKD290 per round and each person there will be poured a generous serve of sake, with boisterous cheers and the sound of the restaurant’s gong following. Alongside this the beverage menu features a selection of smooth sake, refreshing draft beer and Japanese highballs and high quality sake.  See: www.TMK.hk

Nostalgic Tea House Comfort Food At ‘Peony Garden’

Just opened at the Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon’s cultural district, wander into the Peony Garden Tea House which serves up quintessential comfort food classics – from tea house favourites to hawker street-food snacks in an exquisite 3,000 sq ft venue with an ‘open garden’ interior design setting that reminisces ancient traveler rest stops for weary travellers in China.

Hong Kong’s street-style cart noodles, popular Malaysian-style curry, braised Chaozhou specialties and Cantonese roast meat favourites like barbecue pork, roast goose, soy flavoured chicken and crispy pork belly are all part of the menu.  With an expert Chef at the helm, who is one of China’s leading masters of Chaozhou cuisine, you can also expect specialties including premium Goose Fillet (HK$178), Liver (HK$158), and Blood (HK$45); Home-made Stewed Goose Soup with Preserved Lemon (HK$48), Premium Marinated Meat with Taiwan Ramen (Sliced Goose Fillet, Goose Liver, Goose Intestine, Pork Belly and Pork Intestine) (HK$138).

Go there for the classic favourite Cart Noodles, served from 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. to try their Handmade Taiwanese Ramen and Black Vermicelli with an array of soup bases are unique broths of Coriander, Seafood (shrimp and crab) and Chicken Chinese Rice Wine.  Toppings like Chaozhou Handmade Fish and Beef Balls, Spicy Snails, Homemade Fish Maw, Spicy Duck Blood Curd, Deep-fried Bean Curd Sheet make this an impossible just finish quickly and up and go. See their Facebook page @peonygarden.hk

NEW & NOTED: What’s New In Hong Kong

More new eateries and places in Hong Kong to check out…

Eat Italiano Chic – Pici opens in Lai Chi Kok

Serving up fresh homemade pasta and simple dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients, the Lai Chi Kok branch joins its Wan Chai sister offering classic Italian starters and pastas boasting rich flavours.

 

We hear that the Prawn Casoncelli with squid ink Casoncelli pasta crab, prawn, tomato sauce, bisque and chilli packs a kick. Led by Italian Head Chef Andrea Viglione, the new restaurant has a modern, relaxed and casual pasta bar vibe that is hard to resist. See: www.pici.hk

So Great you won’t mind sharing   

We visited the Great Room in the heart of Singapore’s Ngee Ann City recently to visit our publishing and watch aficionado friends at HighEnd Media who house their efficient operations in this hip and glam co-networking space that rents small to mid sized offices and desk space complete with access to meeting room facilities, a posh communal area called the Drawing Room where there is fancy coffee and water on tap, drinks in the fridge if you choose to stock it. Here, a group of like minded business partners are available to collaborate with as they are also co-tenants and won’t have a polite excuse to not meet you over  breakfast or in the evening for after office drinks.

The same concept has launched in Hong Kong and Bangkok. Designed for “grown-up” start-ups and thought leaders. The space in at Swire Properties’ One Taikoo Place was designed by renowned international design agency HASSELL and takes inspiration from its roots as the old Sugar factory. See: https://thegreatroom.co/

Hipster Taiwanese Noodle and Bubble Tea Opens at IFC

Making a statement by opening at IFC Mall in Central, in collaboration with renowned Hong Kong hospitality group Lai Sun Dining, the Taipei brand KiKi Noodle Bar and KiKi Bubble Tea debuts this month. What to Try? Their iconic sun-dried KiKi Noodles, handmade from just flour and water is popular for being 100% natural and healthy, also their authentic Taiwanese tea and bubbles which they have branded as KiKi Tea.

Their Michelin three-starred Chef Albert Au Kwok Keung has created two exclusive KiKi noodle dishes – the KiKi Meat Dumpling Mixed Noodles, Scallion Oil; and classic Chinese favourite, Abalone and Fish Maw Noodles in Chicken Soup. 

Crowd-pleasers to tuck into are the Stir-fried Minced Pork Mixed Noodles with Chive Flowers and Fermented Black Bean, with black beans sprinkled atop to mimic fly heads, mixed with crunching chive flowers, chili and savoury stir-fried minced pork; Sichuan Spicy Tofu Noodles in Soup, Duck Blood and Sliced Pork packing a punch of spice; and comforting classic KiKi Dan Dan Noodles. On top of the classic bubble tea there is refreshing Pineapple Green Teapresso; and Winter Melon Tea, pairing with Sichuan-pepper-flavoured “pearls” and fluffy cream mousse. There are also classic tea-style desserts including Earl Grey Chiffon Cake with Brown Sugar Pearls and Chestnut Mont Blanc. See: https://www.facebook.com/kikinoodlebarhk/

NEW & NOTED – Hong Kong Crocodile Meat Hot Pots

I would have thought that crocodile meat would taste lean and bony but I have to confess that I’ve never eaten crocodile before and if I had to have croc, I would prefer mine be skin-on-bag which may seem a little heartless but if I had to have croc, Hermes would be a distinct preference.

Still, there are gourmets and there are gourmands. And in Hong Kong, The Drunken Pot out to reinvent the tradition of enjoying hotpot, is known for their very innovative ‘new-age’ trendy hot-pots piled with novel ingredients and interesting flavours. They are serving up a“CROCPot” that is mean, lean and packed with protein. Theirs is crocodile tail meat cooked in a rich broth based on a king-sized hotpot. On the menu from 3 to end June as a Fathers’ Day special at their two restaurants – in Causeway Bay and in Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong.

Nutritionally-rich tail is that new foodie craze that seems to be hitting the fragrant harbour and it apparently tastes like a cross between chicken and crab. Farmed on China’s southern tropical island of Hainan, it is said to contain less fat than chicken, and is heart-friendly with considerably lower cholesterol. Used in traditional Chinese medicine, it dates back to  the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century, as “heaty” food believed to cure colds and asthma, and improving skin condition reducing wrinkles.

“CROCPot for The King” is HK$388, as base for personalised choice of ingredients. The broth contains heart healthy, weight loss-friendly guava and fibre-rich guava, with carrot for sweetening, chicken and pork meat for enhancing flavour.

The “Crocodile Rocks Set” at HK$468 per head for at least four guests alternatively features a host of hearty set ingredients – including onion, pork, shrimp & egg dumplings, mapo tofu dumplings and new-on-the-menu conger-pike eel balls, along with The Crafting Bears, and such signature specialties as Hanging Premium Sliced Angus Beef Short Ribs, Kurobuta Pork Slices, Seafood Platter, Taiwan Duck Maroon Jelly, Sliced Squid Ink Sausages, Freshly Made Egg Noodles, Vegetable Platter, Deep-Fried Homemade Bean Curd and Seaweed Rolls, Deep-Fried Salmon Fish Cracklings, Brine Trio with Beef Tripe, Beef Shank and Pork Belly, and Canada Sea Urchin Sashimi Cap.

Croc Pops

Also on the promotional Father’s Day menu are specialty items including a crispy, spicy, deep-fried “CROCPop” snack (HK$98 / 3 skewers) of crocodile tail meat, perfect with beer before a hot pot feast; Conger-pike Eel Balls (HK$58 / 6 pcs); Brine Trio with Beef Tripe, Beef Shank and Pork Belly (HK$88) and Deep-Fried Salmon Fish Cracklings (HK$88).

There is also a takeaway delivery option of  The Crocodile Rocks Set (also priced HK$468 per head, for 4 persons or above) through the brand’s door-to-door service (www.tdpdelivery.com).

Where:
The Drunken Pot is at 2/F, No.8 Observatory Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon and  Victoria Harbour from 27/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. For our Vietnamese readers and visitors, the brand has also recently opened in Ho Chi Min, Vietnam in 2018.   See: www.thedrunkenpot.com

NEW and NOTED: In Hong Kong

I go back to Hong Kong about twice a year and each time I do, I make it a point to explore a few new places that I have either not been to, are just opening or have special events. Here are two interesting and new finds to look out for, this month in Hong Kong:

‘eat darling eat’ 

Opening early March at Fashion Walk at Causeway Bay, this eatery looks from the media pics that we got, as interesting as its quirky name and is all about the revival of nostalgic Hong Kong street treats, snacks and desserts that have been reimagined and served up with a trendy and modern twist. 

At the helm is Executive Chef Jason Luk, a dessert specialist who hails from Zuma. Using his interest in flavours inspired by his global travels, he serves up his own special version of Hong Kong favourites like the Pineapple Bun – his is a fluffy, crunchy exterior oozing with tangy sweet custard of lemon peel, orange peel and coffee beans within, topped with diced pineapple for a delightful marriage of an iconic dessert. Expect a full menu of retro specialties, each with a healthy, contemporary twist that offers intriguing variations of traditional Hong Kong hawker food.

What tingled my tastebuds:

Starters: Stuffed Tofu Puffs (HK$58) stuffed with cream cheese and spring onion; Oyster Spring Rolls (HK$58) featuring dried oyster seasoned with aged vinegar.

Roast Duck Breast

Mains: Comfort food dishes likeChicken Neck Rice with Fried Chicken Skin (HK$98), vegetarian Truffle, Mushroom, Vegetable Rice (HK$78)served in a clay-pot. There is even a Roast Duck Breast with Beetroot Purée and Spinach (HK$118) or a Darling-made Duck Ravioli and Smoked Potato Cream (HK$78) if you want something more fusion.

Desserts: Available all-day desserts make this place ideal for an after-club-hours visit for some “tong sui”, each with a unique twist like their Sweet Potato (HK$68) with decadent chocolate cake and taro ice cream or some of their new items like their Double-strength Milk (HK$48) of milk ice cream infused with Chinese rice wine. There are also coffees from the favourite Hong Kong Milk Coffee (HK$58) to the likes of a Chestnut Cappuccino (HK$58).

Where:
Shop 17, G/F, 11-19 Great George Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay. Call (852) 3188-8949 or see www.mingfathouse.com

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Estiatorio KEIA

H Queen’s is indeed becoming that trendy new place in Central. See our earlier review of Vive Cake Shop that opened recently here and now this modern Greek restaurant designed by award winning architects who have created a space that has light and airy floor-to-ceiling views over Central Hong Kong. Intricate murals and Greek mosaics of ocean motifs and sea creatures adorn the walls to reflect the restaurant’s emphasis on fresh seafood

The menu is largely Mediterranean with fresh premium seafood and traditional Greek specialties dreamed up by a Mykonos-based chef Alexis Zopas from the ultra-hip Scorpios restaurant. He collaborates on the dishes which are all about shared plates and the menu is designed to bring people together to create a communal, convivial environment.

What tingled by taste buds:

Appetisers: Alifes me Pita featuring a range of traditional dips, from Tzatziki Avocado and Spicy Feta to Taramas, Smoked Aubergine and Hummus. Keia Salata, the popular Greek Salad, features the classic combination of vegetables, herbs, olives and feta cheese.

Mains: The ‘Raw Bar’ featuring a variety of fresh seafood, from tuna and salmon to sea bream sashimi, Greek ceviche and the Psari se Alati, a seabream cooked with sea salt in the oven and served with lemon oil and fresh herbs. There are pastas and also a range of seafood dishes and a central oven designed to make Peinerli (Greek baked pies) where you adda range of toppings, including the classic Spanaki (spinach and feta cheese) and Thalassina (mixed seafood and tomato).

Dessert: Greek-born Executive Pastry Chef Marino Kosmas who has worked in Nobu brings an enticing menu of tempting pastries and delicate desserts, including, Ekmek (traditional dessert with Kataifi Fillo, vanilla cream and pistachios), Karidopita (walnut pudding with coffee mousse and Greek honey cream), as well as homemade ice creams and sorbets.

Drinks: Italian-born mixologist Luca Sergi curates a selection of drinks that pair perfectly with the traditional Greek flavours.

Where:
2/F H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road, Central
Call: (852) 2677 7737. See http://www.keia.com.hk

 

Here’s Where You Find Hong Kong’s Biggest, ‘Bestest’ Ramen Bowl!

Ramen lovers alert! Grab a seat at Ramen Cubism, a new ramen destination straight from Osaka that promises flavours that are bold and authentic, an artsy store concept and portions that will delight and surprise.

Just opened in Hong Kong, look for it where the old Tastings wine bar along Wellington Street once was. This chic little ramen store, now sits in its place.

I arrived to find a long lunch time queue already forming at this basement, down-the-stairs venue which opened in early January 2019.

Named after the art style made famous by Pablo Picasso, large wall murals mark the entrance to the restaurant and the exterior walls featuring Japanese anime characters by Russian street artist, Sergei Rozhnow and portraits of the two Ramen masters behind the concept.

Occupying 1,200 sq ft, the cosy 29 seat restaurant features an all wood interior in a cosy noodle bar set up with communal and small group tables that make for a quick eat-and-go experience.

The flagship store for the brand marks a partnership between Hong Kong’s Bird Kingdom Group and two leading ramen personalities from Osaka.

Leading the operations, is Head Chef and noodle champion Hayashi Takao, owner of Osaka’s ‘Original Ramen Style Hayashi’ which opens to long queues each morning at Tsukamoto Station. He is partnered by ramen master, Matsumura Takahiro, who has established eight noodle brands in Osaka including ‘Human Beings Everybody Noodles’, ranked among Osaka’s favourite restaurants on Tripadvisor, ‘The Most Deserted Ramen-Bar In The World’ and ‘The Most Hopeful Ramen Bar in the World’, amongst others. Their big game plan after Hong Kong – to roll out stores in Macau, China and then internationally.

Several new ramens have been created for Hong Kong with interesting names like The Earth Bird – Clear Broth (HK$88), The Sky Bird – White Soup (HK$88) simmered with chicken, The Earth Bird – Clear Spicy Broth (HK$88), and The Sky Bird – White Spicy Soup (HK$88), limited to 200 servings a day.

We decided to try two ramens and two side dishes during our visit.

I ordered Premium Cubism (HK$118) which turned out to be the hugest bowl of flavourful ramen goodness that I have ever tasted.

My lunch companion ordered The Sea – Soy Soup (HK$88) which came with the most amazing piece of braised pork belly.

Optionals were the sides and we ordered an extra side-order of Kagome Khumbu, a nutritional, edible crunchy kelp to share and an order of Matsu Hayashi’s Dumplings (HK$38).

Look at the size of that bowl! Loved the hand-crafted, medium-thick noodles which have a distinct crunchiness when they go into your mouth.

Japanese fans of Chef Hiyashi love his flavourful soup bases, miso seasoning and the fact that he uses the highest quality ingredients and meats including the Aigamo ‘rice’ duck, a hybrid of wild and domestic duck with a uniquely lavish flavour; Danbo chicken, organically reared from pesticide-free farms for a fragrant and rich flavour. 

The dumplings, a popular side dish are served with a signature chili sauce dip.

Chef Matsumura’s famed The Sea Soy Soup (HK$88) offers a soup base made with soy sauce and bonito (skipjack) and instead of the meat being sliced and mixed up in the soup, we love the way its presented – on a side plate as a thick slice of tasty, top quality, slow-cooked pork.

Those who want craft beer will find selected brews from COEDO, including Shikkoku Black Lager (HK$48), Shiro (HK$48) and Ruri (HK$48).

Totally satisfying – count on us going back!

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RAMEN CUBISM is at the basement of Yuen Yick Building, No. 27-29 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong. Opens from Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and Friday to Saturday, 11:00 am to 12:00 midnight.

Call: (852) 2399-0811 or visit Facebook : www.facebook.com/ramencubismhk/

Playful and pretty, Vive Cake Boutique Now In Central!

I’ve noticed new little dessert nooks that seem to be popping up all over Hong Kong, proof that the local appetite does indeed have tummy space and a sweet spot for dessert.

After an afternoon of vigorous shopping in Central, I dropped by the newly opened Vive Cake Boutique, a pink and pretty dessert shop just a quick walk down from Zara and COS, my two favourite shopping stop-bys in the area.

Vive is the brainchild of talented self taught cake designer, Vivien Lau, a Biomedical Science degree graduate who discovered that her true passion lay in baking cakes for friends birthdays. Pursuing that passion, she started an online store in 2014, taking bespoke orders for cakes, cupcakes, macarons, cookies and tailor made cakes for weddings and special occasions.

She has since won many fans, particularly local Hong Kong celebrities and  socialites including the likes of Aaron Kwok, Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung, Niki Chow, Sharon Chan, Miki Yeung, all fans of her low-fat, low sugar baking approach coupled with fancy and intricate designs that have a feminine and playful touch. Over the last four years, her baking studio has also expanded into a couple of boutique cake stores with its newest branch at H Queen, Central’s latest lifestyle hub.

Visiting the new 18 seat boutique at H Queen, Central with my daughter for tea, we tried a few of their lovely signature cakes, first starting with a few of the drinks from their Winter menu.

My choice was the So Grape-ful (HK$68), a really nice take on warm mulled wine decanted into a glass bauble, which when served is gingerly poured into a wine glass and stirred with a cinnamon stick. A blissful aperitif for a cool Hong Kong Winter’s day.

The teen choice was a hearty cup of S’mores (HK$50), a classic hot chocolate topped with roasted marshmallows, featuring butter cake crumbs.

We chose a few mini cakes which are their specialty. Our choices, from top left were the Treasure Hunt (HK$58), a rich caramel glazed cake, layered with dark chocolate sponge, caramel and chocolate mousse set on a crunchy base, Lychee Blush (HK$55), a vanilla sponge lychee mousse with fresh lychee and Berry Jolly (HK$58), a layered sponge cake with mascarpone and strawberry filling.

Loved the little surprise as fork sliced effortlessly into each layer of that soft heavenly sponge to see that at the centre of each creation was a delightful filling.

If you are planning to drop by from now till 28 February, Vive has a Dine-In Afternoon Tea crafted for Valentines’ Day, where a Tea set is available at at HK$218 for one and HK$378 for two (prices are subject to 10% service charge. The tea set includes Mozzarella & Tomato Bruschetta and Smoked Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry Cups; followed by Double Chocolate Mini Cupcake, Cheesecake with Raspberry, Raspberry Macaron, Strawberry Mousse cake, Rose Flavoured Cookies and the afternoon tea classic, Raisin Scones with Clotted Cream & Strawberry Jam. A selection of specialty coffee and tea are served to complement the tea set, immaculately presented in a three tiered tea tray.

Along with this a few new whimsical takeaway creations are available for takeaway including All You Knit is Love (HK$600 for alb; HK$1,180 for 2 lbs), a stunning pastel- coloured purple buttercream cake reminiscent of a heart-shaped bouquet of flowers with a surprising chocolate sponge flavour and chocolate mousse with raspberry underneath. There is also a mini cake called Lover’s Gift (HK$58) with a neat bow on top, made with strawberry and passion fruit mousse and dacquois.

If it’s a grand gesture or big statement you are after, there is Violet Penelope (HK$460 for 0.5 lb; HK$640 for 1 lb), a simple yet beautifully decorated vanilla sponge cake draped in purple cream with rose, lychee, and raspberry mousse and a diamond sculpture on top of the cake.

Vive Cake Boutique is at www.vive.hk. Open daily from 10 am to 8 pm at Shop 3, 1/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.

Korean Dessert Café Wave Hits Hong Kong!

In the last decade, South Korea has ruled Asian pop culture with what I call the three big Ms – Metrosexual pop icons, Music and Melodrama, especially if their hit Korean serials are anything to go by.

Well, the news is that they are far from finished! Aiming to better the French at their dessert game – South Korean dessert cafes have started to pop up everywhere in Hong Kong where local palettes can’t resist ending a hearty meal with a sweet something.

I checked out Le Bread Lab, a newly opened Korean dessert café (it’s first in Hong Kong) for coffee and cake at Mira Place 2 in Tsim Sha Tsui with Kenny Lo, local franchise owner who fell in love with the concept of egg omelettes and lattes over various trips to Korea.

The brand has 30 plus outlets in Seoul and Busan with recent counters opened in department stores in Tokyo and now its first outlet, in Hong Kong. In each instance, Kenny shares that there are typically long queues of teens and people waiting to take-away a few boxes at each time.

Looking for the right spot to open Le Bread Lab in Hong Kong, he decided on Mira Place 2 in Tsim Sha Tsui as the place has become home to a few upcoming teen fashion brands and foodie nooks and is a stone’s throw from TST’s already established Knutsford Terrace eat-street. The Café opened its doors a month ago on 28 December.

Pretty In Pink

Quintessentially girly, everything is baby pink in this store aside from the fancy champagne gold jewelled chandeliers and polished white marble floors.

Teen social media mavericks have it all documented, down (IG: #lebreadlabhk) from the brand’s logo to it’s recognizably pink retail front, right down to it’s pastel pink sofas, pink flowers and strawberry best seller omelettes and famous strawberry lattes. The brand is currently regarded as one of Korea’s hippest, most insta-worthy dessert shops to visit.

Signature Omelettes and Lattes 

Expect a larger menu with food at their Korean stores. Here in  Hong Kong, the store serves up only the brand’s signature creations, their egg omelette, a fluffy cotton-like soft cake that is omelette-shaped, gently folded into halves.

These omelettes are filled with silky-smooth whipped cream cold-shipped from Korea and topped with a variety of local seasonal fruits and lightly dusted with icing sugar. The result, a delightfully refreshing pop-into your mouth, bite-sized dessert that has good texture and a semi-sweet flavour beautifully balanced by the tangy taste of fresh fruit.

There are a few flavours to their egg omelette (see menu above). Best sellers are the Strawberry Omelette which comes in a 4-piece set at HK$68 and a 12-piece set at HK$168.

There is also a special Hong Kong Edition (below) filled with a variety of seasonal fruits – 12 pieces for HK$218. 

And there are also cookies in a collectible pink tin (HK$198), ideal gifts for the Lunar New Year. 

I wanted to try the drinks so ordered the Strawberry Omelette with Strawberry Latte that comes as a set at HK$48.

There are also a variety of coffee and milk beverages served hot or cold. Loved the collectible milk bottles that these cold lattes came in. Especially yummy was the Strawberry Latte with bits of fresh strawberry floating right to the top of this milky drink. 

Taro and sweet potato and yam seems to be this season’s ‘in’ flavours.  Kenny introduced us to this  delicious and hearty Purple Sweet Potato Latte (HK$38) – definitely a perfect Valentines’ excuse to haul that significant other out on an insta-worthy coffee date. 

Where:

LE BREAD LAB
Address: Shop 303, L3, Mira Place One, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Opening Hours: Open Daily 11:00am – 8:30pm

Find them here

Marketing gimmicks make this Hotpot chain a winner!

I’m back in Hong Kong for two weeks because of the Summer school break in Auckland which means that I have come back to cooler Winter weather because of the reverse in seasons. For my tummy, cool weather simply translates into hotpot time – an excuse to get together and catch up with good friends for one of my favourite shared meals.

A close friend recommended this amazing hot pot find. A place called Hai Di Lao hotpot restaurant which started in China’s Sichuan province in 2004 and evolved from a humble spicy (ma-la) hotpot chain to a 300 outlet chain all over China, Hong Kong, recently opening in Singapore and the US. We visited the outlet in Kowloon’s bustling Yaumatei district. For those who want to try it – head out of Yaumatei’s MTR station, exit A1 and its just around the corner, up the stairs in the next door mall.

There is literally something for everyone from food to entertainment here based on the sheer marketing genius that is behind it’s brilliant customer service. In fact, keeping the customer waiting has become an art form at this restaurant.

Make a reservation and arrive in time for it but don’t expect to be promptly seated. In fact, you should expect a queue … and a VERY LONG one at that. However there are no angry complaints, hungry crying children or irritable guests (all common sights at crowded Hong Kong eateries). Instead, this restaurant has turned waiting time into a fun pre-dining experience for all who come.

Seats and free snacks

There are seats for everyone in the queue, albeit rather unsophisticated stools and small tables but no one is left standing.

Whilst you wait, you can help yourself to a free-flow complimentary range of snacks or fruits, water,  pop corn, crisps and even ice cream (if you want it before your meal). Before long, you will find yourself happily chatting, itchy mouth occupied and hunger soothed whilst you whet that appetite. If you are still bored, pick up one of their readily available board games or leave the kids to watch TV or get them busily occupied in the Kid’s playroom.

Free Gel Nails

Ladies, forget future investments in your expensive gel nail package. The outlet here has a team of manicurist that offer a free gel nail service.

They  remove your old set, reapply the new and you have an ample choice of trendy colours and embellishments. Definitely gets you coming back for your next fix every month when your nails grow out. An act of sheer marketing genius in my books!

Birthday Parties and Performances

Birthday celebrations are also a performance art here. The service crew come out to sing a song, stereo music accompaniment blaring in the background. By the time that they are done, everyone in the restaurant knows its your special day. Bring your own cake or order one from the outlet. Whatever makes your visit and the occasion work!

The restaurant has occasional impromptu performances here like the Chinese face mask changing artist. They go from table to table to entertain guests during dinner.

VIP Members

Customer retention and loyalty is a big thing here. VIPs (we are not sure how one qualifies for this) have a little sign that says you are ‘Diamond member’ delivered to the table.

My host who was a diamond member got the full works – a service staff who knew his name, a visit from the outlet manager to our table to chat and find out how we were doing – at the same time delivering a free box of beautifully packaged red packets from the restaurant for Chinese New Year. My host shares that they even give away mooncakes when the annual mid-autumn season season arrives.

Whilst we happily chatted away. we had our hot pot items cooked for us at the table by the hostess, drinks refreshed almost every five minutes, all despite a crazy turnover of customers coming in and out of the restaurant. Someone also came by to take a commemorative photo of our table when the food arrived and at the end of the meal, each guest at our table got a print out of the photo in a sealed zip lock for safe keeping. This was nothing short of the whole works in terms of customer service.

The Menu

The hotpot menu had good and wide variety and was high tech. No paper menus with everything available only on a tablet which is left on your table. In terms of the food – hot pot is hot pot – there is not a lot that you don’t love about the experience since you literally pick your own favourites and the pleasure lies in the camaraderie of cooking it.

What I truly thought was innovative and unexpected was the soup tray. Usually you get a ying yang tray with a maximum of two compartments. This restaurant offered a tray with 4 cooking slots which meant that you could have 3 or 4 soup bases with different flavours to cook your food in. We chose the sichuan hot soup base (known as ma-la), a pork bone soup broth and a tomato soup base (my favourite) leaving the last compartment for hot water to cook the veggies, noodles or just to rinse out our cooking utensils.

And just when we thought that the experience was ended, our order of noodles arrived with dancing waiter in tow. Dinner theatre was his noodle dance hand-pulling the noodles according to the preferred consistency – thick or thin.

If you don’t like noodles, don’t fret, there is also a wagyu beef fried rice at the buffet bar which comes complimentary with the meal, alongside a variety of starters. Everything is free except the sauces (HK$22 per person) and the drinks ($15 per person and refillable) which honestly was a nominal fee considering how everything else was already thrown in.

Dessert arrived – a finale of fresh fruits and a clear Osmanthus Pear drink. Go back to the buffet bar if you want seconds and help yourself with more. All complimentary, of course.

Open 24 Hours!

No one politely chases you out after an hour – which is the case at most of Hong Kong’s popular hot pot buffet restaurants, just to accomodate a turn over of customers. Instead, here you roll yourself out voluntarily – just to walk off all you have eaten pre and post main course. Whoever said hot pot was healthy as it was all soup – clearly has not been to Haidilao!

And did I mention it is open 24 hours a day here with queues at midnight being the norm! It definitely needs to go to Australia and New Zealand where there are Chinese communities with appetites for novelty and exactly this type of concept.

Find their Hong Kong outlets here. 

 

6 Sumptuous Afternoon Teas To Tuck Into In Hong Kong

If the tai tai life is what you are after in Hong Kong or if it just means that you have the perfect excuse to sit down and refuel after that fast and furious shopping trip with your girlfriends at one of Hong Kong’s many seasonal sales then Afternoon Tea is just the meal that you don’t want to miss out on … here are 6 lovely locations where you can book your table now …

The Langham’s Honey Afternoon Tea

… is a collaboration between The Langham Hotel in TST and beauty brand Guerlain who have launched a few new products that incorporate royal jelly and honey as part of their Abeille Royale Collection.

The Hotel’s Honey Afternoon Tea is served on a unique honeycomb stand and features honey from an organic bee farm in Hong Kong. Sweet morsels include The Bee, a golden macaron filled with dark chocolate and honey nectar, Chocolate, a mini tartlet made with salty caramel, honey ganache and milk chocolate and Honeycomb, an Earl Grey crémeux, honey and orange jelly, topped with chunks of homemade honeycomb and sprinkles of gold dusted white chocolate pearls. The spread also features Mango and honey mousse, a French Mille-feuille with honey cream infused with vanilla and yuzu. Not just sweet, but also savoury, there is a delicious Lavender-infused Honey Glazed Duck Breast, Cucumber and Cheddar Cheese Sandwiches and a Norwegian Smoked Salmon Dome Stuffed with Crab Salad on Corn Bread. On top of everything, there is a selection of exquisite afternoon tea blends to go with the food, the comfort of the lovely ambience of one of Hong Kong’s classiest tea lounges where you can just sink into the forever of their plush and lovely sofas and just spend all having a chi chi afternoon catch up.

Available at The Palm Court Lobby Lounge from NOW till end 30 September 2017 at HK$348 for one person and HK$598 for two persons, subject to a 10 per cent service charge

Served: Weekdays from 3:00 to 5:30 pm and on weekends and public holidays in two sittings, from 2:15 – 4:15 p.m., and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m
Call: (852) 2132 7898

 

The Cakery’s Guilt Free Afternoon Tea

Is there such a thing as a guilt free afternoon tea? Well, for those with a conscience, step into The Cakery. Owner, Shirley Kwok serves up a 100% gluten free tea that uses natural, nutrient- rich ingredients like brown rice flour, tapioca flour, millet flour, almond flour, buckwheat flour, oat flour and Arrowroot flour to create the pastries on her special menu. All her sweets are also made with low-sugar or refined-sugar free, and there are vegetarian and vegan items featured.

Presented beautifully on a fan-shaped three-tiered sleek white tray, find Truffle Chouquettes which is an Italian truffle cream cheese mousse with gluten-free choux pastry, Mini Pizzas made with sweet potato, baby corn, red onion, mushroom, parmesan cheese, tomato sauce, Lobster Crepes featuring US lobster galette, cream cheese, gluten-free crepe, Salmon and Cream Cheese Sandwiches made with gluten-free vegan chia bread. The sweets include Bite-size Cupcakes except that these are gluten-free and/or dairy- free, egg-free, low-sugar and low-fat. There are also Lemon Tarts made with gluten-free pastry and White Chocolate Goji Berry Mousse Pots and Mini Chia Puddings, Gluten-free Scones served with homemade strawberry raspberry basil jam, clotted cream. Enjoy all that with homemade Red Date & Goji Berry Tea or a Ginger Spice Tea or The Cakery’s Tea and Organic Coffee selection and go home guilt-free (well, almost!)

Available at The Cakery Lee Gardens Two, from NOW at HK$388 (per set for two persons)

Extras: Make a booking a day in advance and get a 10% discount.

Served: Daily from 2.30pm to 6.00pm daily, subject to 10% service charge.

Call: (852) 2816 1838

 

Yeh! Shanghai Afternoon Tea at The W Hotel’s Woo Bar

Here’s a promising mini food tour around Shanghai whilst you are in Hong Kong at the W Hotel’s WOOBAR! Their Afternoon High Tea has a Shanghainese theme and the Yeh! Shanghai tea set starts with delicious morsels of crispy suckling pig, fermented bean curd paste and caviar, transferring you to a traditional Chinese BBQ restaurant, however only for a second before you move onto succulent seafood treats such as the prawn cocktail with light spicy sesame soya sauce and sago.  Not just savouries but also sweets, the set includes black sesame dumpling with white sesame tuile and chocolate and cinnamon croissant twist.  The favourite item being their signature “Xiao long BAO” – a cake consisting of vanilla-pistachio mousse, raspberry jam on feuilletine.  On weekends, expect an Afternoon Tea Buffet spread.

 

Drink’s wise, the Hotel is not just stopping at a simple cup of Chinese tea but has used the Chinese inspiration of four flowers, each representing four different seasons with the Chrysanthemum representing Autumn in its beverages and alcoholic drinks. There are concoctions like The Qipao, a fresh blend of Belvedere Vodka, Lemon juice, Chrysanthemum tea and a unique blend of Osmanthus syrup, The Shanghai Pour, served in an oriental teapot and cup with a mixture of Chinese white wine, The Wild Flower, a fresh combination of egg white, lemon juice, gin with a Yuzu paste flavour or The Pearl, perfect for the whisky and date lovers.

AvailableNOW to 31 October 2017 at The Woobar at The W Hotel

Served: An Afternoon Tea Set is served on Monday – Friday (except public holidays) from 2:30pm at $418 + 10% for two whilst an Afternoon Tea buffet is served on Saturday and Sunday including public holidays from 2:30pm – 5:30pm at $330 + 10% per person. Cocktails are priced at $140+10%

Call: (852) 37172889

 

‘The history of Whoo’ Afternoon Tea at The Intercontinental

If you are into Korean culture, cosmetics and food, the Lobby Lounge at the Intercontinental has also partnered with premium Korean skincare brand, ‘The history of Whoo’, to launch an Afternoon Tea Set that is all about consuming ingredients that preserve one’s beauty and prevent ageing, all inspired by Korean royal court beauty secrets which kind of reminds me of a throw back to that immensely popular K-drama, ‘Jewel In The Palace’ some years back.

Their Afternoon tea is both savoury and sweet so there are items like Ginseng chicken rolls, an Angelica slow cooked Pork belly on brioche bread and a Comfit Foie Gras and goji berry chutney on crispy bread, served alongside pastry items like the Whoo Macaroon, a Calvados Jelly Apple Pie, Almond Cream, Tea Cakes, Panna Cottas and Scones.

Available at The Intercontinental Hotel’s Lobby Lounge 18 Sep to 30 November 2017

Served: There is a Weekday Afternoon Tea set at $608 for 2 persons (Monday to Friday) and a Weekend Afternoon Tea Set at $628 for 2 persons (Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays)

Extras: The Tea Set is inclusive of two special ‘The history of Whoo’ Bichup Royal Anti-aging Kits (valued at $500 each) plus two gift cards with special offers for products at “The history of Whoo” shop in Harbour City. Beauty afficianados who bought items at ‘The history of Whoo’ with a receipt can also enjoy 20% off of the Afternoon Tea Set for 2 persons.

Alongside this, the Hotel has arranged a series of Korean Handicraft Workshops on how to make simple Korean style accessories like Dried Flower Bracelets on Friday, Sept 22, October 27 and November 24  and a Korean Knots Workshop on Friday, Oct 13 and Nov 10. Details here.

Call: (852) 2721 1211

 

A Van Cleef & Arpels Nature-Inspired Tea at The Peninsula

With a new boutique just opened at the iconic Peninsula Hotel’s Arcade, jewelry brand Van Cleef & Arpels have gone the extra mile to commemorate the occasion by launching a high tea that aims to serve up a range of treats that is almost as exquisite as the jewelry they sell.

Presented on a silver platter, there are fruit tarts like the Lemon and Basil, Chocolate Tarts with Milk Chocolate Chantilly, apricot macarons, a mango and passionfruit choux that reflects the brand’s 3D heart shaped petals in their collection and savouries like the nicoise salad, croquet monsieur, smoked salmon rolls with lemon cress and carrot bread and the Pen’s all time favourites, the dill-marinated cucumber sandwiches and their freshly baked scones with organic strawberry jam and clotted cream.

AvailableNOW till 30 September 2017 at The Peninsula’s Lobby Lounge

Served:  Daily from 2pm to 6pm at $388 per person or $688 for 2 persons. Champagne is at an extra $220 per glass. Each table gets a Van Cleef & Arpels notebook from their iconic Frivole^™ jewelry collection, evoked by enchanting blooms (whilst stocks last)

Call: (852) 2920 2888

 

Afternoon Tea with Cody The Red Panda at The Cordis

If your kids are coming to tea with you over the weekend, then tea with Cody, The Red Panda at The Cordis Hotel, is an absolute MUST! Cody is the Cordis Hotel’s red panda mascot and he is a hit with the youngsters and will be hanging out at The Place every weekend and on public holidays during the Hotel’s Afternoon Tea Buffet.

He is endangered as red pandas are, so make sure that the time with Cody is well spent and make it an educational experience for your young ones by visiting the booth at the buffet that explains what is being done to protect the red panda. Each child at the buffet will receive a red panda backpack with different Cody themed goodies. There are activities for the kids including handicraft sessions for kids to turn some of the hotel’s recyclables into toys and a colouring contest with attractive prizes. Kids can take pictures with Cody or pick up a plush toy where proceeds go towards the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation to support wildlife conservation including the preservation of red pandas and their habitats.

Cody is a particularly generous guy so kids aged 6 years or below are invited to enjoy the buffet for free. The buffet is tailor made and filled with kids’ favourite tea time items, including Cheese Spring Rolls, BBQ Chicken Drumsticks, and Pan-seared Japanese Pork Sausages, delicious desserts including assorted Cody-shaped Cookies, Blood Orange Cody Mousse Cake, and Cody Cupcakes. Kids are also invited to make their own crepes and puffs. One of the most comprehensive tea buffets available, find Pineapple Chicken Salad, Melon Salad with Shrimp, Salmon Sashimi, Snapper Sashimi, California Maki Roll, Deep Fried Shrimp Toast, Scrambled Egg with Black Truffle Paste, Wok Fried Korean Fish Cake, Korean Dumplings with Vegetable Broth, Japanese Soup Noodles, Indian Vegetarian Curry, Hong Kong Dim Sums, Coffee Opera Cake, American Cheesecake, Strawberry Panna Cotta, Mövenpick Ice Cream and more on the menu.

Available16 September till 15 October 2017 at The Place, The Cordis Hotel at Langham Place, Mongkok at $248 for Adults and $198 for Kids and Seniors.

Served on weekends and public holidays from 16 September to 15 October 2017

Extras: Each Cordis Kid will receive a red panda backpack with different Cody themed goodies. They can also join the complimentary handicraft session to turn some of the hotel’s recyclable into toys. Each adult can bring up to 2 children, 6 years and under for free.

Call: (852) 3552 3028

 

3 Seriously Cool Asian Restaurants To Go To In Hong Kong This Summer

Junjuu’s super cool dining room

Funky mod-Korean restaurant & bar Jinjuu, headed by TV chef and UK Iron Chef winner, Korean-American Judy Joo, has just reopened in Lan Kwai Fong after a bout of renovations and menu revamp and a happy “price adjustment”. Look forward to set lunch starting from HK$198 for two courses, and new sharing plates for dinner, featuring dishes like short rib kimchi hhotteok with Korean-style pancake, Kong bowl (HK$45) with edamame topped with chilli panko mix, Philly cheese steak & kimchi (HK$85), and whole Korean fried chicken (HK$480 for 3-4 pax). Head Mixologist Edgar Santillan rolls out summer cocktails (HK$120) ranging from fruity Purple Haze, comprising hibiscus-tinted Glendalough gin, yuzu sake, acai liquor, lemon juice, apple, orange sherbet, to The Gentleman, a boozy tipple of Buffalo Trace bourbon, lillet blanc, pedro ximenez & angostura bitters. Happy hour hits between 5 and 8pm.

UG/F, California Tower, 32 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 3755-4868

Summery Thai-meets-South American flavours in Limewood

If you want to get into the breezy holiday mood, head to Limewood at Repulse Bay for a seriously exciting meal where Thai flavours and South American cooking collide deliciously. Tuck into summery dishes like its soft shell crab salad and Pacific lobster salad with ponzu mayo, yellow curry mayo, grapefruit and avocado; barbecued New Zealand lamb rack served with Penang curry, green peppercorns, fragrant herbs and kaffir lime, whole roasted jerked chicken with caramelized pineapple and mango habanero sauce, and its signature Charred Whole Sea Bream. Wash it all down with craft beers, shaken margaritas and “barbeque inspired cocktails”.
The Pulse, Shop 103 & 104 G/F – 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay
Tel: +852 2866 8668

Matcha tea glutinous rice balls filled with yam & crispy glutinous rice dumpling with chocolate at Hutong

Hutong at One Peking may have been around for quite a while, but this Chinese courtyard house styled restaurant continues to keep Chinese dining fresh and stylish. Just launched is its new Fēng Wèi brunch on weekends which showcases Chinese cuisine in the coolest way possible, washed with the option of free flow Veuve Clicquot Champagne and summer cocktails. Tuck into over 18 traditional dishes given a contemporary twist, such as a rich and aromatic seared foie gras with osmanthus-smoked coddled egg, shrimp, kimchi & mozzarella spring roll, 12-hour braised beef rib with aromatic herbs in lotus leaf and Matcha tea glutinous rice balls filled with sweet potato. Complementing the experience are demonstrations of traditional Chinese arts like fortune-telling by bird (as seen in the night markets of Temple Street), Sichuan face changing, kung-fu tea pouring and Chinese rainbow calligraphy. It may be kind of touristy (good for bringing out-of-town friends) but the food is definitely worth heading back for. HK$428 and additional HK$200 for Champagne and drinks option.

28/F One Peking, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Telephone: (852) 3428 8342

Hutong’s stylish take on northern Chinese favourites